Expanding connections in the bird's nest industry to meet the market of billions people

The first enterprise in the Central Highlands to officially export bird's nests

These days, over 100 workers of Thanh Dung Bird's Nest Import-Export Joint Stock Company, Krong Pac district, Dak Lak province, are busy processing and packaging bird's nests to prepare for the first official export to China.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Huy, General Director of the company, said that the company built factories on an area of 1,200 square meters. The scale of the factory can produce 20 tons/year to meet the requirements of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

Recently, GACC conducted a final inspection of the factory. The company continues to produce and wait for the following note from the General Department of Customs of China approving the official bird's nest export unit.

According to Mr. Huy, after the protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) signed with GACC in 2022, many businesses organized and completed registration documents to officially be licensed to export to China. The products China allows Vietnam to export include refined birds' nests and semi-processed birds' nests.

On November 15, 2023, the first Vietnamese bird's nest export ceremony to China was held at the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in Lang Son province. At the ceremony, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, General Director of Avanest Vietnam Nutrition Joint Stock Company, expressed her honor of being the first business in Vietnam to be approved by the GACC.

Bird's nest farmers said that the official price of bird's nests exported to the Chinese market is much better than that in the Vietnamese market.

"Chinese businesses have a huge, unlimited demand for purchasing output. No matter how much businesses can export, they buy it all. Large Chinese businesses have come to Vietnam to ask about linking with companies to purchase and export bird's nests. Official export to China is a good sign for farmers and businesses," Mr. Huy said.

The General Director added that the potential for bird's nest farming in Dak Lak and Vietnam is still enormous. More than Vietnam's bird's nest output is needed for export.

Thanh Dung Bird's Nest Import-Export Joint Stock Company is the first unit in Dak Lak and the Central Highlands to complete procedures and export the first bird's nests to China. The company wants bird's nest farmers to cooperate to form a sustainable chain of links.

"Here, the bird's nest farming industry can develop strongly due to official export. Thanh Dung Company will coordinate with units and the Bird's Nest Association of Dak Lak province to propagate to people about techniques, thereby building a chain of links to develop the sustainable bird's nest industry.

The business has linked over 250 bird's nest houses in Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Binh Dinh province. Enterprises determine that when forming a sustainable chain of links, farmers and businesses will profit," Mr. Huy added.

However, the connection must be improved because people must update information about the production, birds' nest house codes, and related activities. Businesses and people, therefore, have yet to find a familiar voice.

"GACC has just issued codes to several units allowed to export. Currently, Thanh Dung company's preparations are ready; we are just waiting for GACC's note to hold the export ceremony," Mr. Huy shared.

Need to form a chain of links

According to Mr. Pham Van Hau, Chairman of Dak Lak Bird's Nest Association, the potential for developing bird's nest farming in the locality is vast. The quality of Dak Lak's bird's nest is considered very good.

To meet export requirements, the Dak Lak Bird's Nest Association will continue to support members and facility owners in improving their knowledge and investing in applying science and technology to bring the best quality bird's nest.

The association will also support connecting birds' nest farming facilities with businesses approved to export, including Thanh Dung Bird's Nest Import-Export Joint Stock Company, to participate in linked chains to help increase the prices of product treatment.

"The Association encourages people to develop in a sustainable direction. Shortly, the association will organize linkage workshops, form supply chains, and invite export businesses to advise farmers on the production and operation process of bird's nest houses. Managing quality supply will control and ensure bird nest quality," Mr. Hau said.

After the bird's nests protocol was issued, Avanest and Sanvinest Khanh Hoa were two successful export enterprises. It is predicted that many more companies will soon be licensed to export. Therefore, the demand for bird's nest output will increase many times. The price of bird's nests will improve.

"Businesses must base their cooperation on export standards. Currently, bird's nest farming households are quite fragmented. People must comply with the regulations to participate in the linkage. If a chain is formed, businesses can manage the supply and quality of finished export products," Mr. Hau emphasized.